A Sudbury woman has received a national award for her volunteer work with Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
Sarah Bouchard, 34, was honored with the organization’s national Unsung Hero award, which recognizes a volunteer who has made a substantial contribution to the work of the organization.
Diagnosed with Crohn's at the age of 17 when she was attending Lasalle Secondary School, Bouchard has been involved with the local chapter for about eight years, and has helped grow its membership.
She is a past-president and an organizer of the annual Gutsy Walk fundraiser. She also volunteered her time to improve the branch's social media presence and obtained some new sponsorships.
"The organization means a lot to me," she said. "I am passionate about it because it impacts me directly. The things they do help people like me."
You can watch the awards ceremony here.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These diseases inflame the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and disrupt one's ability to digest food, absorb nutrition and eliminate waste in a healthy manner.
More than 300,000 Canadians are believed to be living with IBD. There are an estimated 1,100 people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis in the Sudbury area.
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s main focus is to find a cure for IBD and improve the lives impacted by it.
People are generally diagnosed with IBD before the age of 30. Many are embarrassed by the condition and prefer not to talk about it, but Bouchard is not reluctant to share her story in the hope her experience will help others.
"It can be debilitating. At my sickest, I had to use the washroom 10 times at night and 20 times a day without even eating much. You have no control.
"There were obviously some challenges as I was finishing high school and entering university … There were a few years navigating what medications would work to stabilize my symptoms."
Despite having difficult flair-ups of her condition, Bouchard graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science from Laurentian University and then pursued a bachelor of education at Nipissing University in North Bay. She has a graduate diploma in science communications, and recently, she finished her master of education through online studies at Queen's University.
She received a scholarship from Crohn's and Colitis Canada to help pay for her master degree.
Bouchard is currently employed at Laurentian University where she develops online courses.
As a member of the Sudbury Crohn's and Colitis Canada chapter, Bouchard found "meeting other people who had been through similar experiences helpful. And when I was feeling better, I realized I could be a comfort to someone else who was newly diagnosed or maybe help someone whose child was diagnosed to see I was surviving and thriving despite having gone through lots of challenges.
"I enjoy having conversations with people and helping them feel they are not alone."
Vicki Gilhula is a freelance writer in Greater Sudbury. Helpers is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
